Whenever I visit a city, I try to find viewpoints to photograph its skyline. They are located outside the boundaries of the city or on top of some of its taller buildings. To get those rooftop views usually requires an entrance fee or a good connection. In Kuala Lumpur, all it takes is to stay in the right apartment.
While traveling through Malaysia last month, I had three layoffs in Kuala Lumpur. To make the most of those stays, I did extensive research to find apartments in buildings with great rooftop views. To do this, I scoured Airbnb and Booking, browsing through nearly a hundred apartments. What I can rely on in this search: If an apartment is in a building with a view, the owner will use its photo as an advertisement.
Most of those photos aren’t very good. But they gave me a rough idea of the possibilities. Once I had narrowed my selection down to 10 candidates, I used Google Maps to take a closer look at the locations of the buildings and the orientation of the rooftops. It helped me find, in my opinion, the three most interesting perspectives.
Expressionz Suites
The first apartment I stayed in was located inside the Expressionz Suites complex, located on the northeast edge of downtown. As with most apartments and hotels in Kuala Lumpur, you can reach the international airport by taxi in less than an hour for between $15 and $25. If you’re frugal, you can also get to the center. city by public transport.
Expressionz Suites caught my attention because of the rooftop pool area. During my research, I saw countless photos of the infinity pool with the Petronas Towers in the background. On Google maps, I can also see a small lounge-like area next to the pool, perfect for tripods.
With a high enough tripod that can reach above the railing, you can photograph down the city. The direction of the buildings provides a good view of Petronas Towers and KL Towers. After looking through countless photos of Kuala Lumpur, I consider this one of the best views in town.
As I explained in the introductory video, there are currently some rules that apply to enter the pool area: Only one hour stay is allowed at a time for up to 20 people and the entrance fee is around 2, 5 dollars. . But most importantly they don’t have a tripod policy yet and have enough space to put a tripod. This allows you to take pictures there without disturbing other guests.
Regalia Suites
This building is much more popular with photographers than the first one. I have seen many pictures taken from its roof, and I remember Elia Locardi taking pictures from there in one of his Moments in Time episodes.
While at the Expression Suites all are towards the view from the terrace, if you stay at the Regalia Suites you should try to find accommodation with a view. Some apartments have a balcony facing the city. Get one in building A on one of the higher floors, and you won’t even have to go up to the rooftop to take pictures of the city.
It would be a good backup if they restrict access to the terrace even more. To get to the pool area now, you must make a reservation for a specific time at least a day in advance and then wait for the approval letter. In that letter, you’ll see a long list of things you won’t be able to bring to the pool area, including bags, drones, and tripods.
And they are very strict and not open to discussion. When I tried to carry my camera bag, I had to leave it at the door or return it to my room before I could get in. In the end, I got up there with just my camera, towel, and cable.
The good thing is: That’s all you need for a long exposure on it. There is a wall on the far side of the pool on which you can place the camera. I used my towels as a leveling base and was then able to take pictures for an hour, undisturbed by security.
Ceylonz Suites
On my third stay, I wanted a sunrise view of the city. While looking at various options west of downtown, I found Ceylonz Suites. Of the three buildings I share here, it has the best location. You can walk to Chinatown, the center and KL Tower to find more subjects to photograph. To get anywhere from the other two buildings, Grab is required as there is no pedestrian option – Grab is Southeast Asia’s Uber on the roads.
But what about the point of view? Ceylonz Suites has a few gardens on different floors, the largest of which is on the 39th floor. The vista area is not as large as other rooftops but equally photogenic. Here, a long lens will allow you to separate out the Petronas Towers and create a unique image of the horizon.
Biggest plus: There are no rules when it comes to rooftop access. I’m surprised it wasn’t locked when I got up half an hour before sunrise one morning. And there’s plenty of space to put a tripod. It’s a relaxed atmosphere for photography.
Inference
I can recommend a stay at both Expressionz Suites and Ceylonz Suites. Not only will you have breathtaking views, but you will also find beautiful apartments at affordable prices. While the Regalia Suites also has a view, it’s not as pretty as the other buildings. Then every 5 to 10 minutes a tram passes by, making it almost impossible to sleep through the night.
Those three buildings aren’t the only ones with rooftop views in Kuala Lumpur, either. If you invest a little time, you will find a lot of other things. If money is not an issue, you can check out the Traders hotel and book a room facing the Petronas Towers. Ask to get one on the higher floors. Then you won’t even have to visit their SkyBar to take pictures of the city.
In case you’ve been to Kuala Lumpur, let us know what your favorite views are.
